Machine for packaging products in preformed flexible containers with closing element

ABSTRACT

The packaging machine for packaging products in preformed flexible containers with closing element comprises a feeding station ( 1 ), which feeds the preformed flexible containers ( 10 ) with closing element; a dosing station, which doses a product into the containers; and a sealing station ( 6 ), which seals the container with the product inside, wherein the packaging machine also comprises an opening station ( 3 ), in which said container ( 10 ) is opened, said opening station ( 3 ) being positioned before said dosing station. 
     It allows the container to be fed with the closing element open or closed, as the opening station allows the closing element to be opened if it is closed, increasing the productivity of the packaging machine.

The present invention relates to a machine for packaging products inpreformed flexible containers with a closing element.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Different types of packaging are available on the market, each oneadapted to a specific use. In particular, on the market there is apackaging commonly known as “Doypack®”, which is usually used as asingle-use packaging for granulated or liquid products, and has thefeature that it includes a closing element.

This closing element is usually of the type known as a “Zipper®”, whichis commonly used for powdered, granulated, hygienic, cleaning or foodproducts. This type of closure is a snap closure along a line.

In addition, this type of container may, if desired, comprise a nozzleformed in the container itself closed by a cap.

In order to achieve maximum packaging productivity, automatic packagingmachines are used, comprising a dosing station for dosing a product intothe container and a sealing station in which the filled container issealed.

When using “Doypack®” containers, the presence of this closing elementmakes the packaging operation more difficult, and it is always necessaryto supply the containers to the machine with the closing element open,with the consequent problem that this entails, since during productionthe closing element can remain closed.

Therefore, an objective of the present invention is to provide apackaging machine which enables products to be packaged quickly andeasily in such containers provided with a closing element.

DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

With the packaging machine of the invention, the above-mentioneddisadvantages are solved, presenting other advantages which will bedescribed below.

The machine for packaging products in preformed flexible containers withclosing element according to the present invention comprises:

-   -   a feeding station that feeds the preformed flexible containers        with closing element;    -   a dosing station, which doses a product into the containers; and    -   a sealing station, which seals the container with the product        inside it,        wherein the packaging machine also comprises an opening station,        in which said container is opened, said opening station being        positioned before said dosing station.

Thanks to this feature, the container can be fed with the closingelement open or closed, as the opening station allows to open theclosing element in case it is closed, increasing the productivity of thepackaging machine.

Advantageously, said opening station comprises a pair of suctionelements, such as two suction cups, which are fixed to two oppositeparts of the container.

Furthermore, said opening station also preferably comprises a pair ofopening grippers, which open said container before dosing. Saidgrippers, for example, are a pair of plates which are inserted through amouth of said container and are moved apart from each other to open thecontainer.

In the machine for packaging products in preformed flexible containerswith closing element according to the present invention, said containerfeeding station preferably comprises a conveyor belt.

Said container feeding station also preferably comprises a positioningsensor, which detects the position of a container and can determinewhether said container is in the correct position.

The machine for packaging products in preformed flexible containers withclosing element according to the present invention also preferablycomprises a positioning arm carrying a bag from the container feedingstation to the opening station. Said positioning arm is advantageouslytiltable from a container pick-up position at the container feedingstation to a container delivery position to the opening station.

Furthermore, advantageously said container feeding station comprisessuction elements for lifting the front end of the container to be heldby said positioning arm.

The machine for packaging products in preformed flexible containers withclosing element according to the present invention may also comprise aclosing element feeding station.

According to a preferred embodiment, said closing element feed stationcomprises a flap hinged between an open position allowing the passage ofa closing element and a closed position in which it prevents the passageof at least one closing element, a locking piston for locking at leastone closing element, and/or grippers for holding a closing element.

Furthermore, said sealing station preferably comprises sealing jaws.

Said closing element is a plug and/or a zipper.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

For a better understanding of what has been explained above, somedrawings are included in which, schematically and only as a non-limitingexample, a practical case of embodiment is shown.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the packaging machine according to thepresent invention during the feeding of a preformed flexible container;

FIGS. 2 and 3 are perspective views of the packaging machine accordingto the present invention during the transfer of a container from thecontainer feeding station to the opening station;

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the packaging machine according to thepresent invention with a container in its initial position in theopening station;

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the packaging machine according to thepresent invention with a container in its open position at the openingstation;

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of the closing element feeding station withthe hinged flap in its closed position;

FIG. 7 is a perspective view of the closing element feeding station withthe hinged flap in its open position; and

FIG. 8 is a perspective view of the packaging machine according to thepresent invention, wherein is shown the sealing station with its sealingjaws in the open position.

DESCRIPTION OF A PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

The figures show the most relevant stations of the packaging machineaccording to the present invention, although the last stations, whichare the dosing and sealing stations (for the embodiment of FIGS. 1 to5), are not shown, for reasons of simplicity and because they areconventional dosing and sealing stations.

It should be noted that this packaging machine is specially designed foruse with containers of the type comprising a closing element, commonlyknown in the industry as a “Zipper®”. In other words, it is designed foruse with containers known as “Doypack®”.

The main advantage of the packaging machine according to the presentinvention is that it allows to feed the containers with their closingelement closed or open, since in either case the machine will open saidcontainer before its dosing with the desired product.

The packaging machine according to the present invention comprises acontainer feeding station, generally identified by reference numeral 1,comprising a conveyor belt 11, which feeds the containers 10.

Said conveyor belt 11 may comprise rollers 12 and a sensor, whichdetects the position of the container 10 and determines whether itsposition is correct.

When such position is correct, suction elements 13 hold said container10 for lifting its front end, which is provided with a mouth, so that apositioning arm 2 is coupled to said end of the container 10.

Said positioning arm 2 is preferably tiltable and moves the container 10from the container feeding station 1 to an opening station 3. Thismovement can be seen in FIGS. 2 and 3.

In said opening station 3, the container 10 is placed in the appropriateposition as shown in FIG. 4. In this position, suction elements 31, suchas suction cups, are fixed on two opposite portions of the container 10close to the end provided with said mouth.

Furthermore, in order to open the container 10, the opening station 3comprises opening grippers 32, which also open in this way the closingelement of the container 10, as shown in FIG. 5.

Said opening tongs 32 are preferably formed from plates which areinserted into the mouth of the container 10 for opening.

Next, although not shown in the figures, the container 10 is taken to adosing station, where a suitable product is dosed to fill the container10 and, finally, the container 10 is sealed, with the possibility offitting a cap, if so desired.

FIGS. 6 to 8 show an alternative embodiment of the product packagingmachine according to the present invention, which is used in the casewhere the closing element is a cap, which is placed in a Doypack® typeflexible container.

It should be noted, however, that the same machine may comprise a partfor the packaging of Doypack® type flexible packaging products withZipper® and a part for the packaging of Doypack® type flexible packagingproducts with cap.

In this embodiment, the machine comprises a station for feeding closingelements 4, i.e., caps 5.

In the embodiment shown, in said closing element feeding station 4 thecaps are placed one above the other vertically, and a hinged flap 41closes the feeding of the last cap 5 or cap placed in the lowestposition of the stack of caps.

Furthermore, in order to prevent the feeding of several caps at the sametime, said closing element feeding station 4 also comprises a blockingpiston 42, which blocks the advancement of the penultimate cap 5 in thecap stack before the opening of the hinged flap 41.

This closing element feed station 4 also comprises grippers 43 whichhold the last cap 5 for placement on the container 10.

The positioning of the cap 5 on the container 10 is preferably carriedout by welding, and at the same time as welding the cap 5 isstretched/closes the container 10 at the top in order to be able toobtain a better welding quality.

FIG. 6 shows the hinged flap 41 in its closed position, while FIG. 7shows it in its open position, allowing the lowering of the last cap 5from the stack of caps for placement in the container 10.

The packaging machine also comprises a sealing station 6, which sealsthe container 10 by means of jaws 61, which in FIG. 6 the jaws 61 areshown in their closed position, sealing the container 10, whereas inFIG. 8 they are shown in their open position.

Once the container 10 has been welded, the grippers 43 are opened,releasing the cap 5, and they are raised to their former position.

In addition, the already formed container 10 is transported, awaitingreceipt of the next cap 5 to be placed on the next container 10.

Although reference has been made to a specific embodiment of theinvention, it is obvious to a person skilled in the art that thepackaging machine described is susceptible of numerous variations andmodifications, and that all the details mentioned can be replaced byother technically equivalent ones, without departing from the scope ofprotection defined by the appended claims.

1. A machine for packaging products in preformed flexible containerswith a closing element, the machine comprising: a feeding station thatfeeds the preformed flexible containers with the closing element; adosing station, which doses a product into the preformed flexiblecontainers; and a sealing station, which seals the preformed flexiblecontainers with the product inside the preformed flexible containers,characterised in that the machine also comprises an opening station, inwhich said preformed flexible containers are opened, and said openingstation is positioned before said dosing station.
 2. The machine forpackaging products in the preformed flexible containers with the closingelement according to claim 1, wherein said opening station comprises apair of suction elements, which are fixed to two opposite sides of thepreformed flexible containers.
 3. The machine for packaging products inthe preformed flexible containers with the closing element according toclaim 1, wherein said opening station comprises a pair of openinggrippers, which open said preformed flexible containers before dosing.4. The machine for packaging products in the preformed flexiblecontainers with the closing element according to claim 1, wherein saidfeeding station comprises a conveyor belt.
 5. The machine for packagingproducts in the preformed flexible containers with the closing elementaccording to claim 1, wherein said feeding station comprises apositioning sensor, which detects the positions of the preformedflexible containers.
 6. The machine for packaging products in thepreformed flexible containers with the closing element according toclaim 1, also comprising a positioning arm, which carries the preformedflexible containers from the feeding station to the opening station. 7.The machine for packaging products in the preformed flexible containerswith the closing element according to claim 6, wherein said positioningarm is tiltable from a container pick-up position at the containerfeeding station to a container delivery position to the opening station.8. The machine for packaging products in the preformed flexiblecontainers with the closing element according to claim 1, wherein saidfeeding station comprises suction elements for lifting the front end ofthe preformed flexible containers.
 9. The machine for packaging productsin the preformed flexible containers with the closing element accordingto claim 1, also comprising a closing element feeding station.
 10. Themachine for packaging products in the preformed flexible containers withthe closing element according to claim 9, wherein said closing elementfeeding station comprises a flap hinged between an open positionallowing the passage of the closing element and a closed position inwhich it prevents the passage of at least one closing element.
 11. Themachine for packaging products in the preformed flexible packaging withthe closing element according to claim 9, wherein said closing elementfeeding station comprises a locking piston for locking at least oneclosing element.
 12. The machine for packaging products in the preformedflexible packaging with the closing element according to claim 9,wherein said closing element feeding station comprises grippers forgripping the closing element.
 13. The machine for packaging products inthe preformed flexible containers with the closing element according toclaim 1, wherein said sealing station comprises sealing jaws.
 14. Themachine for packaging products in the preformed flexible containers withthe closing element according to claim 1, wherein said closing elementis a cap and/or a zipper.